7791

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7791
• Author: National Parks and Conservation Association.
• Title: Park Waters in Peril, National Parks and Conservation Association.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: YES

PROBLEMS 6T RECOMMENDATIONS
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Wasteful Water Practices: Minimize competing demands for park waters by:
^ Providing incentives for, or compelling, water conservation measures in water-short areas
near parks.
^ Initiating programs to discourage or prohibit, the "mining" of ground water aquifers which
supply park waters.
• Expanding water conservation programs in parks and expanding public education pro-
grams on the benefits of water conservation.
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Nonpoint Source Pollution: Protect park waters from nonpoint source pollution and sedi-
ment by:
^ Strengthening the Clean Water Act to prevent, and more effectively control, nonpoint
sources of pollution.
^ Authorizing the Park Service to compel the appropriate agencies to initiate needed compli-
ance or enforcement actions.
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Nonmandatory Antidegradation Standards: Enhance protection of park water quality by:
^ Strengthening the Clean Water Act to require mandatory protection of park waters as "out-
standing National resource waters" or an equivalent designation prohibiting any degrada-
tion of park water quality.
^ Requiring water quality agencies to notify and consult with the Park Service regarding the
classification of park waters and any waters that could affect park resources.
• Petitioning state regulators to protect park waters as "outstanding National resource
waters" or an equivalent antidegradation classification. .
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Mineral Development: Protect park waters from mining and oil and gas activities by:
^ Reforming the 1872 Mining Law to prohibit mining or the staking of claims on park
watershed lands unless mining will not impair park waters; and to prohibit patenting of
mining claims in parks and on important park watershed lands.
^ Ensuring that the Clean Water Act effectively controls all polluted runoff from mining and
oil and gas development sites.
^ Ensuring that the Park Service has authority to regulate mining and oil and gas activity on
watershed lands beyond park boundaries, and on all inholdings, to the extent necessary to
avoid impairment of park waters.
^ Prohibiting any new offshore oil and gas exploration, leasing or development where spills
or discharges would present a significant threat to park coastal waters or resources.
• Promulgating regulations to avoid impairment of park waters from mineral and oil and gas
activity on park watersheds and on all inholdings.
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